Texas A&M University-Commerce Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice GRADUATE HANDBOOK FOR THE MASTER S DEGREE IN SOCIOLOGY

Transcription

1 Texas A&M University-Commerce Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice GRADUATE HANDBOOK FOR THE MASTER S DEGREE IN SOCIOLOGY

2 Table of Contents Introduction..1 Admission....2 Assistantships..3 Timeline for Completing the Master s Degree.. 4 Diagnostic Exam.. 5 Written Comprehensive Exam. 6 Degree Option I Thesis...7 Degree Option II Non-Thesis..10 IRB and Human Subjects Protection Criminal Justice Management Certificate..13 Organizations 14 Study Guide for Comprehensive Exam..16 List of Graduate Courses...22 List of Graduate Faculty. 23 Forms.. 24

3 Introduction The Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice offers a Master's Degree with a major and a minor in Sociology. Both a Master of Arts (requiring foreign language courses) and Master of Science (without foreign language requirement) are available. The department also offers a Criminal Justice Management certificate. The graduate program in sociology is designed to meet the needs of students pursuing public service, community college teaching, research, and administrative careers, as well as those students preparing for more advanced graduate work in sociology and criminal justice. The purpose of this handbook is to provide students with a set of guidelines for graduate education in sociology. It should not be considered the final arbiter of all matters relating to the educational enterprise. In this regard, consider the following caveat: The definitive source of all standards, requirements, and deadlines remains the Texas A&M-Commerce Graduate School. In all such matters, consult the current Graduate Catalog, or contact the Graduate School directly. The Department has an internationally recognized group of teachers and researchers to work with you. Additionally, the university library contains over two million books, bound periodicals, pamphlets, non-print media, and other processed materials. Online data bases provide students access to 1,000 peer reviewed journals which can be accessed from their homes, and inter-library loan is available for material not currently available at our institution. Please read over the information provided in this handbook and feel free to contact the graduate advisor with any questions you may have. The department looks forward to the possibility of working with you to enhance your education and pursue your scholarly goals! Graduate Advisor Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice Ferguson Social Sciences Building 210 Texas A&M University-Commerce Commerce, TX (voice) (fax) Sociology & Criminal Justice Graduate Students Revised 08/2008 Page 1

4 Admission Details of the admission policy and procedures are clearly outlined and explained in the current Graduate Catalog of the University available on-line at: Necessary forms for admission to the graduate school may also be obtained at that site. You may also call the following offices for more information: Graduate School: Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice: Interested students must first apply to the graduate school of Texas A&M University-Commerce. Once all materials have been compiled, a student s file is forwarded to the department for review and acceptance. Specific admissions criteria required by the Graduate School and the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice: The student will: 1. Earn a minimum of a 2.5 grade point average at the undergraduate level, 2. Earn a minimum score of 700 in combined Verbal and Quantitative aspects of the Graduate Record Examination, plus a score of 3.5 or higher on the written component of that exam. 3. Submit a sample of your writing 4. Submit three current letters of recommendation 5. Confer with the Graduate Advisor in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice who will help the student to: a. Initiate preparation of the degree plan prescribing courses to be taken, b. Interpret relevant guidelines as necessary, and c. Otherwise direct the progress of the student through the program. Revised 08/2008 Page 2

5 Graduate Assistantships Graduate teaching, non-teaching, and special research assistantships are available on a competitive basis in the department for Fall and Spring semesters. Application forms for these positions are available on the Graduate School website or in the Graduate School office. Interested students should submit their applications to the graduate advisor along with the following items: 1. A hard copy of the Assistantship application. {Download the application at: } 2. Copy of transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate courses taken. For teaching assistantships, transcripts must show that a student has completed at least 18 graduate hours in sociology before starting the teaching assistantship. 3. Two current reference letters from professors mailed directly to the Graduate Advisor. {Letter for assistantships are separate from the letters needed for admissions} 4. Resume Applying for a graduate assistantship is a separate process from applying to admission to the graduate school and department. For instance, you will need to obtain separate letters of recommendation for both admission and for the assistantship. Please see the graduate website for more information about the stipend, qualifications and expectations of graduate assistantships or visit the following website: Information about other scholarships and financial assistance for graduate students can be found on the graduate school website, or at: Revised 08/2008 Page 3

6 Timeline for Pursuing the Master s Degree Once a student has been officially accepted into the graduate program and received initial advisement from the graduate advisor, the student will begin their coursework. The diagram below illustrates the steps involved in completing the master s degree in sociology in a timely fashion. Apply to Graduate School Apply to the Take GRE Graduate School Schedule an appointment with Graduate Advisor Take Diagnostic Exam [before completion of 1 st semester] Begin Graduate Coursework Complete Admission to Candidacy Form Select Option I or Option II Complete Coursework Select Thesis Advisor Register for Soc 518 Complete Coursework Select Non-Thesis Advisor Register for Soc 595 Schedule Thesis Defense Schedule Oral Defense Take Written Comprehensive Exam Complete Final Comprehensive Examination Form Graduate A detailed description of these requirements is listed in the following pages. Revised 08/2008 Page 4

7 Diagnostic Examination Students are expected to complete the diagnostic exam before completing their first semester of graduate coursework. The purpose of the diagnostic examination is to evaluate students' understanding of sociological concepts, ideas, theories, principles, and methods. The exam questions include 70 multiple-choice questions and three essay questions all based on the three areas stated below: Areas of Examination General Sociology Sociological Theory Research Methodology Prerequisite or its equivalent needed for competency Sociology 111: Introduction to Sociology Sociology 436: Sociological Theory Sociology 331: Introduction to Social Research Sociology 332: Intermediate Methods of Sociological Analysis The graduate advisor will be able to certify suitable substitutions for the prerequisite courses brought in from another institution. The diagnostic examination is administered by the Graduate Advisor. The examination is offered at the beginning of each semester. The results of the examination shall be: (1) "Satisfactory": a score of at least 75%; no recommendations for any makeup work, or (2) "Unsatisfactory": a score lower than 75%; recommendations for makeup work, or the requirement that students (re)take the undergraduate prerequisite course before beginning graduate work. Clearance of the Candidacy Requirement Students will contact the Graduate Advisor for completion of the candidacy requirement form during the second semester of his/her enrollment in the Master's in Sociology. The Graduate Advisor will then evaluate students' work and progress in the program based upon such criteria as: (1) coursework completed in sociology and (2) satisfactory completion of the makeup work, if any, required as a result of the diagnostic examination. Students must complete the Graduate School's candidacy requirements before completing 18 hours of course work in the Master's Program. Revised 08/2008 Page 5

8 Comprehensive Written Examination Students should take this written examination one semester prior to the semester in which they graduate. The examination will consist of three essay questions covering: general sociology, theory, and methodology/statistics. The comprehensive written examination will be offered on the fourth Friday of October, March, and July of each year. The student s examination is graded by three members of the graduate teaching faculty. Results of the examination include: (1) Pass: the student has demonstrated competency in all areas of the exam. (2) Conditional Pass: the student has demonstrated deficiencies in knowledge in one or more areas of the exam. The graduate advisor will recommend additional work that the student must complete to the satisfaction of the graduate committee. If the student is unable to demonstrate proficiency in the makeup work, the student must re-sit the exam. (3) Fail: the student has not convincingly demonstrated sufficient knowledge in several areas of the exam. The student must re-sit the exam See the study guide for the comprehensive exam in this handbook for helpful information as you prepare for this important step in your graduate education. A student will not be allowed to take this examination more than three times. Revised 08/2008 Page 6

9 Options Available in Master's Degree Programs Option I Thesis The Master's program provides two options. Option I requires the least amount of coursework but includes a thesis. Option II requires more coursework and a shorter, 595 project. Students should discuss which option is the most appropriate for their career goals. Generally, students wishing to pursue doctoral education should select Option I, while those seeking to obtain additional competencies, skills and education for the purposes of career advancement may elect option II, instead. Option I: Thesis (30 Hours) Eight courses and six hours of thesis research in Sociology. Required courses include: Soc 535 Readings in Sociology Soc 572 Classical Sociological Theory Soc 573 Contemporary Sociological Theory Soc 575 Research Methods Soc 576 Data Analysis Soc 518 Thesis 6 semester hours Three Sociology or Criminal Justice courses will also be selected by students to round out their graduate degree The student must select a graduate faculty member of their choice who will agree to serve as their thesis advisor prior to registering for Soc 518. The student and his/her advisor will also select two additional faculty members who will serve as thesis committee members. Check with your thesis advisor, the graduate catalog and the graduate website for helpful information on the required format, sections and expectations of the thesis. A. Thesis Proposal A Thesis Proposal is the initial step in the writing of a thesis. The prospectus must set forth the research planned, including the following sections: (1) Introduction to the problem (2) Review of the literature (3) Clear statement of hypotheses and anticipated findings (4) Methodology (5) Bibliography It is the responsibility of the student to distribute copies of the proposal to all members of his or her committee for approval. A committee meeting will be called by the thesis advisor with the student and all committee members present. This meeting serves as an opportunity for everyone to discuss the research, highlight any potential problems or limitations of the study, and also give approval for the collection of data to commence. Students who have had their thesis proposal approved by the committee should fill out the appropriate form and forward it to the department head for proper signatures. Revised 08/2008 Page 7

10 In addition, all students conducting Soc 518 research must conform to the Institutional Review Board and Human Subjects Protection Board policies. B. Role of the Thesis Advisor The Thesis Advisor will play a key role in supervising the student's research during all phases of the thesis writing, and responsible for coordinating advice from other committee members. The initial drafts of the thesis must be produced under close direction of the thesis advisor. Students must follow a style manual (e.g., APA or ASA) and guidelines provided by the Graduate School in preparing his or her thesis drafts. The final copy of the thesis must be submitted to the student's committee at least one full week prior to the date of the thesis defense. C. Thesis Defense The Thesis Director will determine the date, time, and the place of the thesis defense in consultation with the student and committee members. The thesis defense will be announced at least one week in advance and is open to the entire faculty and all graduate students of the department. During the thesis defense, the student should be prepared to discuss their research, highlighting the significance of the study, relevant literature on which the study was based, the methodology used and the overall findings and conclusions of the research. Students are expected to be able to articulate, clarify, justify and defend their research, if necessary. Students should also be prepared to also answer other questions reflecting general knowledge they are expected to have mastered at the graduate level in the discipline of sociology. So, questions relevant to theory, methodology, statistics and other substantive areas the student has studied are possible questions that might be asked by the thesis committee. On the basis of the student's overall work and performance during the thesis defense, the committee will render one of the following decisions: 1. Pass: This outcome signifies that the student has demonstrated competency in all areas to the extent that awarding the Master's Degree is recommended. 2. Conditional Pass: In this situation, the student is considered to have demonstrated general ability, but lacks adequate preparation in one or more areas. The student will be required to attend a second thesis defense at a later date on those sections failed in the first examination. At least one month must lapse before the second examination can be taken. As a result of this second examination the student is either passed or failed. 3. Fail: This may result in the student being dropped from the Master's degree program. Revised 08/2008 Page 8

11 D. Grading The thesis is graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis. Students who do not complete the thesis receive the grade of I (incomplete) on their transcript. The I does not affect the student s GPA negatively, but cannot be removed until the student completes the thesis. Revised 08/2008 Page 9

12 Options Available in Master's Degree Programs Option II Non-Thesis The Master's program provides two options. Option I requires the least amount of coursework but includes a thesis. Option II requires more coursework and a shorter, 595 project. Students should discuss which option is the most appropriate for their career goals. Generally, students wishing to pursue doctoral education should select Option I, while those seeking to obtain additional competencies, skills and education for the purposes of career advancement may elect option II, instead. Option II: Non-Thesis (36 Hours) Students choosing the non-thesis option will take eight to ten courses in Sociology: Required courses include: Soc 535 Readings in Sociology Soc.572 Classical Sociological Theory Soc 573 Contemporary Sociological Theory Soc 575 Research Methods Soc 576 Data Analysis Soc 595 Research Literature and Techniques Two to six graduate courses in Sociology and/or Criminal Justice. In addition to Sociology and Criminal Justice courses, a student who pursues the Non-Thesis option will also select two to four approved courses in a minor area. A. The 595 Non-Thesis Project The Option II student must select a non-thesis advisor before registering for SOC 595. He/she must complete SOC 575 before registering for SOC 595, and complete the course within one semester unless the advisor is willing to give the student a grade of X. Students who receive the grade X for the Soc 595 will have one semester to complete the project, or the grade automatically turns to an F. Students who collect data from human subjects as part of the Soc 595 will need to obtain IRB approval from the department and university (see below). B. Oral Examination A student who chooses this option is also required to pass an oral examination which will be administered during the last semester of his or her study. The student's non-thesis advisor will issue a notice of the time and place of the examination. The oral examination committee will consist of the student's non-thesis advisor and two other members of the graduate faculty. During the oral examination, the student should be prepared to discuss their research, highlighting the significance of the study, relevant literature on which the study was based, the methodology used and the overall findings and conclusions of the research. Students are expected to be able to articulate, clarify, justify and defend their research, if necessary. Students should also be prepared to also answer other questions reflecting general knowledge they are expected to have mastered at the graduate level in the discipline of sociology. So, questions relevant to theory, methodology, statistics and other substantive areas the student has studied are possible questions that might be asked by the Revised 08/2008 Page 10

13 thesis committee. On the basis of the student's overall work and performance during the oral examination, the committee will render one of the following decisions: 1. Pass: This outcome signifies that the student has demonstrated competence in all areas to the extent that awarding the Master's Degree is recommended. 2. Conditional Pass: In this situation, the student is considered to have demonstrated general ability, but lacks adequate preparation in one or more areas. The student will be required to attend a second thesis defense at a later date on those sections failed in the first examination. At least one month must lapse before the second examination can be taken. As a result of this second examination the student is either passed or failed. 3. Fail: This may result in the student being dropped from the Master's degree program. C. Grading The 595 project is graded like any other course taken in your graduate program. That is, you will receive a letter grade upon completion of the project. If necessary, and with the approval of your 595 advisor, you may take one additional semester to complete the non-thesis research. A grade of X will be given. This particular grade provides the student with one additional semester to complete all course requirements, but failure to do so results in an automatic grade of F on the transcript. Revised 08/2008 Page 11

14 IRB Approval & Human Subjects Protection Students enrolled in either Soc 518 or Soc 595 that plan to collect empirical data for their thesis must abide by all ethical practices set forth in the ASA Code of Ethics. Informed consent must be obtained as well as appropriate measures to minimize risk to human subjects. Students will need to complete an IRB protocol, obtain departmental approval for their research, as well as file the form with Natalie Henderson in the graduate school and Dr. Tracy Henley, current chair of the University IRB Committee. Students may not begin data collection until full approval has been granted from the University IRB Committee. Please visit the following website for the IRB protocol form and procedures. Click on Human Subjects IRB Protocol under Master s. Revised 08/2008 Page 12

15 Criminal Justice Management Certificate The Department offers a certificate program in Criminal Justice Management. This special one-weekend per month program requires any four courses, or a total of 12 semester hours. When coupled with completion of the Master s Degree in Sociology, students may elect to take six of these courses (18 semester hours) which would allow them to teach both sociology and criminal justice at the community college level. These criminal justice courses may count as electives toward option I or option II of the master s degree in sociology, but cannot be substitute for the core, required courses in that program. Students must be admitted into a graduate program, or have obtained non-degree admission status prior to enrolling in any 500-level courses. Students who wish to only complete the certificate requirements without continuing on to our sociology graduate program (or any other graduate program at Texas A&M University Commerce) should complete the Statement of Understanding for Non-Degree Students form. Criminal Justice Management Certificate Titles: CJ 514 Family Violence CJ 530 Seminar in Crime and Delinquency CJ 531 Contemporary Issues in Criminal Law CJ 531 Police Management CJ 568 Seminar in Correction CJ 597 Police Civil Liability CJ 597 Teaching Sociology & Criminal Justice CJ 597 Drugs and Society Students must have earned and maintained a GPA of 3.0 to complete the certificate. Revised 08/2008 Page 13

16 Organizations There is one social organization and two honorary societies which graduate students are eligible and encouraged to join. A. Sociology and Criminal Justice Society (SACS) The purpose of the Sociology and Criminal Justice Society is to form a bond among students, teachers, the community, and members of the profession. This relationship is designed to advance the scholarship and fraternity of its members, to foster integrity and professional competence, to promote the welfare of its members, and to encourage intellectual advancement so that each member may enjoy a lifetime of honorable service. Membership in SACS is open to any student or faculty member who has an interest in sociology or criminal justice and is dedicated to upholding the professional integrity of his or her chosen field. Members are expected to actively engage in fraternal and scholarly endeavors through participation in the organization's activities. Yearly dues are $20 and include a T-Shirt. More information about SACS can be obtained by contacting: Dr. Kenneth L. Clinton Room 210, Ferguson Social Sciences Building (903) Kenneth_Clinton@tamu-commerce.edu B. Alpha Kappa Delta Alpha Kappa Delta (AKD), the International Sociology Honor Society, was founded on the Texas A&M--Commerce campus in Created to recognize outstanding scholarship in the field of Sociology, AKD is a democratic, non-secret organization dedicated to the scientific study of human society and the betterment of humankind. AKD sponsors a number of events and activities and often joins with SACS to sponsor guest speakers and other academic events in the department and on campus. To be eligible, students must have: 1) At least junior standing (60 or more college hours); 2) A minimum overall G.P.A of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale); 3) Completed at least 4 courses in Sociology; 4) A minimum G.P.A 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale) in all sociology courses Membership is granted without regard to race, creed, or national origin. Initiation is held twice a year: in November and in the Spring (usually during mid-april). Dues are $ 65 and include a T-Shirt, certificate and one-year subscription to Sociological Inquiry. AKD members who would like to purchase honor cords for graduation may do so by contacting the faculty advisor. More information about AKD can be obtained by contacting: Revised 08/2008 Page 14

17 Dr. Kenneth L. Clinton Social Science Building 206 Phone: C. Alpha Phi Sigma The Alpha Kappa Omega chapter of the national criminal justice honor society Alpha Phi Sigma was chartered at Texas A&M University-Commerce in Its purposes are to recognize and promote high scholarship among students actively engaged in collegiate preparation for professional services; to keep abreast of the advances in scientific research; to elevate the ethical standards of the criminal justice profession; and to establish in the public mind the benefit and necessity of education and professional training. To be eligible to join Alpha Phi Sigma, Criminal justice majors and minors must have: 1) A minimum GPA of 3.0 overall 2) A minimum GPA of 3.2 in completed criminal justice courses, including transfer credits 3) Completed at least one-third of the total credit hours required for graduation 4) Completed a minimum of four criminal justice courses Members pay a one-time national membership fee and nominal annual local dues, totaling $40. A certificate and pin are provided to inductees as symbols of the distinction of membership. Honor cords worn at graduation are also available for purchase. Initiation occurs once during the school year during the Spring semester. More information about Alpha Phi Sigma can be obtained by contacting: Dr. Melinda Schlager Social Sciences 207 Phone: Melinda_Schlager@tamu-commerce.edu Revised 08/2008 Page 15

18 Study Guide for the Written Comprehensive Examination Students preparing for this examination are advised to use the enclosed topics and questions as a study guide for the three areas of study: (1) general sociology; (2) sociological theory; and (3) research methodology and statistics. The quality of students' answers to essay questions will be judged by three graduate committee members in terms of the following criteria: a) How organized and well written essays are; b) Mastery of the subject matter and ability to integrate key sociological ideas, concepts, theories; c) Relevance of the material presented; d) Ability to utilize details from important primary readings and research in sociology from their core and substantive coursework; e) Clarity; and f) Convincing ability to engage in critical thinking. I. General Sociology A. The Sociological Perspective 1. You should be able to define the sociological perspective. Also, you should be able to compare and contrast the sociological perspective with those of the other social sciences. Using an example of a social issue (e.g. abortion, suicide, mental illness, divorce, child abuse, poverty, etc.) be able to demonstrate how the sociological perspective approaches the study of social phenomena as compared to other disciplines. 2. Be able to describe the historic time period when sociology emerged as a distinct discipline? What key historic events helped to shape sociology and what impact did they have? B. Concepts in Sociology Students should be familiar with the basic concepts in sociological literature, and more importantly, be able to incorporate these concepts to fortify your written answers. Name the main developer of any of the concepts, where possible, and briefly define each one of them. Give examples where you can. Remember, these are just examples of selected concepts. Most introductory sociology textbooks also list major concepts in sociology under each chapter that would be helpful to study from. Revised 08/2008 Page 16

19 Alienation Altruistic, anomic, egoistic & fatalistic suicide Anomie Bureaucracy Communicative Action Conspicuous consumption Cultural lag Culture of poverty Definition of the situation Dialectic materialism Differential association Dramaturgy Ecological Fallacy False consciousness Gemeinschaft and gessellschaft Globalization Grounded Theory Hawthorne effect I and Me Ideal type Ideational and sensate cultures Ideology and Utopia Latent and manifest functions Looking glass self Mechanical & Organic solidarity Middle range theory Paradigm Patriarchy Prejudice versus discrimination Primary group/secondary group Power Elite Rationality Self fulfilling prophecy Sex versus gender Significant vs. Generalized Other Social construction of reality Sociological imagination Social system Stigma Traditional, charismatic & rational-legal authority Verstehen Revised 08/2008 Page 17

20 II. Sociological Theory A. Significance of Theory 1. You should be able to define sociological theory and briefly discuss different types of theories relevant to sociology (e.g. metaphysical, scientific, normative, analytical, grand, middle-range, etc.). Give suitable examples for each type of sociological theory. 2. You should be able to identify how theory and research in interconnected. Demonstrate how various phases of research are dependent on theory and how research helps the development of theory in sociology. Use examples to illustrate your arguments. 3. In what ways are theories connected to paradigms? What are the major paradigms in sociology? In what ways are paradigms limited and/or incommensurate with each other? How does each view the world differently? B. Major Theorists Identify the most important contributions of the major classical and contemporary theorists in sociology. You should prepare a summary on each theorist in terms of the following: 1. His/her biography; 2. His/her overall contribution to sociological thought (i.e. central idea, theme, focus); 3. His/her major works and areas of study; and 4. A critical evaluation of their contributions 5. The connection of their writings and ideas to the major paradigms within the discipline of sociology. Be familiar with the major ideas and writings of a range of theorists, such as*: Classical Sociological Theorists August Comte Emile Durkheim Karl Marx George Herbert Mead Max Weber Georg Simmel Talcott Parsons Contemporary Sociological Theorists C. Wright Mills Erik Olin Wright Robert Merton Herbert Blumer Erving Goffman Jürgen Habermas Dorothy Smith Revised 08/2008 Page 18

21 George Homans WI Thomas Karl Mannheim Michel Foucault Patricia Hill Collins Harold Garfinkle *Students sitting for the written comprehensive exams should have some exposure to the primary writings of these theorists and able to demonstrate knowledge of these theorists major writings, findings and impact on the discipline of sociology. C. Major Paradigms You should be able to demonstrate a clear understanding of the major theoretical paradigms in sociology (functionalism, conflict theory, exchange theory, symbolic interactionism, feminist theory, postmodernism). Cover the following aspects of each perspective: 1. What are its central themes and basic postulates? 2. Identify major works (theorists, books, essays) in each perspective and be able to discuss the significant ideas of these writings. 3. Compare each perspective to other perspectives. 4. Critically evaluate each perspective, noting advantages and disadvantages of this framework. III. Research Methods and Statistics A. Science 1. You should demonstrate a clear understanding of what science is (and what it is not) in terms of the major characteristics of scientific thinking. Also, be able to conceptualize the major limits of science and scientific thinking. 2. What is logical positivism and how has it impacted both the theories and method of sociology? Should sociology be considered a hard science like mathematics or biology? B. The Scientific Method You should be able to identify major steps involved in conducting scientific research in sociology using the scientific method. Use an example of a research problem to illustrate each stage or phase in the research process. C. Defining Variables 1. You should know the nature and importance of measuring sociological variables and problems or difficulties involved in measuring these types of variables. Revised 08/2008 Page 19

22 2. You should be able to define (and give examples for) concepts, such as: a. operational definition of a concept b. reliability of a measurement c. validity of a measurement d. dependent variables e. independent variables f. four levels of measurement D. Sampling You should be able to demonstrate your understanding of each of the following sampling designs in terms of: (1) what it means (2) what are the major procedures and techniques involved in implementing it, and (3) its merits and demerits in comparison to other sampling designs 1. systematic random sampling 2. stratified random sampling 3. non-random sampling E. Research Design You should be able to write an essay give examples of each of the following research designs, noting the advantages and disadvantages of each: 1. quantitative versus qualitative 2. unobtrusive observation 3. participant observation 4. experimental research 5. survey research 6. historical/archival 7. secondary data F. Data Collection You should be able to discuss the major techniques and procedures of data collection, such as: 1. survey 2. interviewing 3. mailed questionnaire 4. ethnography 5. focus groups 6. historical/archival/secondary data Revised 08/2008 Page 20

23 G. Data Analysis You should be able to identify and discuss the step involved in data analysis, including: 1. tabulation and other forms of presentation of data 2. interpretation of data 3. various qualitative analysis techniques H. Statistics (SPSS) Students are expected to be familiar with the following statistical procedures used in the social sciences; and more importantly, be familiar with the uses and application of these tests. In what situation would the following statistics be appropriate? 1. mean, median, and mode 2. standard deviation 3. measures of association for all levels of measurements 4. univariate, bi-variate, multi-variate statistics 5. level of significance 6. connection between tests of significance and sampling theory 7. basic concepts of sampling distributions 8. analysis of variance (ANOVA) 9. correlation 10. factor analysis 11. t tests 12. chi square Revised 08/2008 Page 21

24 Graduate Course Offerings in Sociology & Criminal Justice 1. Required Prerequisites: Soc 111, Soc 331, Soc 332, Soc 436, or their equivalents approved by the graduate advisor 2. Required Sociology Courses: Soc 535 Readings in General Sociology Soc 572 Classical Sociological Theory Soc 573 Contemporary Sociological Theory Soc 575 Logic and Method of Social Inquiry Soc 576 Data Analysis in Social Research Soc 518 Thesis for Option I (six hours) Soc 595 Research Literature and Techniques-for Option II 3. Other Sociology Courses: Soc 504 Studies in Contemporary Sociology (Varying topics) Soc 512 Sociological Perspectives on Marriage and Family Soc 514 Family Violence Soc 515 Medical Sociology Soc 516 Sociology and Education Soc 553 American Subcultural Groups Soc 589 Independent Study Soc 597 Special Topics 5. Criminal Justice Courses CJ 514 Family Violence CJ 530 Seminar in Crime and Delinquency CJ 531 Contemporary Issues in Criminal Law CJ 531 Police Management CJ 568 Seminar in Corrections CJ 597 Police Civil Liability CJ 597 Teaching Sociology & Criminal Justice CJ 597 Drugs and Society Revised 08/2008 Page 22

25 Graduate Faculty Kenneth Lawrence Clinton, Ph. D., Washington State University J. Douglas Dailey, Ph. D., Sam Houston State University Willie Edwards, Ph. D., University of Minnesota Linda Matthei, Ph. D., University of California-Irvine James McBroom, Ph. D., University of North Texas Melinda Schlager, Ph.D., Rutgers University Raghu N. Singh, Ph. D., Mississippi State University Jiaming Sun, Ph. D. University of Illinois-Chicago William Thompson, Ph.D., Oklahoma State University Yvonne Villanueva-Russell, Ph. D., University of Missouri-Columbia Revised 08/2008 Page 23

26 Forms The following pages contain the following forms that may need to be completed during your graduate studies. These forms may also be obtained from your graduate advisor and the graduate school. 1] Application for Admission or Readmission 2] Application for Master s Assistantship 3] Application for Admission to Candidacy for Master s Degree [to be completed before 18 semester hours of coursework] 4] Statement of Understanding for Non-Degree Students [to be completed by students in the Criminal Justice Management certificate] 5] Master s Degree Final Comprehensive Examination Report THESIS 6] Master s Degree Final Comprehensive Examination Report NONTHESIS 7] Transfer/Substitution Course Request for Master s Degree 8] Request to Change Graduate Program Status 9] Request to Enroll in a 300 or 400 Level Course for Graduate Credit 10] Request to Schedule Senior Student for a 500-Level Course Please see the following website for downloadable versions of these forms: Revised 08/2008 Page 24

27 For more information, please contact: Graduate Advisor Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice Ferguson Social Sciences Building 210 Texas A&M University-Commerce Commerce, TX (voice) (fax) Sociology & Criminal Justice Graduate Students Revised 08/2008 Page 25